Adapting to Change: Strategic Responses to Evolving Women's Healthcare Legislature

This presentation will explore Piedmont’s strategic response to recent legislative changes, focusing on HB481 (the Georgia “Heartbeat” bill), SB46 (addressing new HIV/syphilis testing requirements), and the establishment of a maternal mortality dashboard. We will review how these legislative measures impact healthcare delivery, especially concerning women’s health and maternal care. The session will delve into strategies implemented across the system, including data-driven approaches using the maternal mortality dashboard to identify patterns, track outcomes, and implement targeted interventions aimed at reducing maternal deaths.

Navigating Legal Changes:
Attendees will learn how to navigate legislative changes like HB481 and SB46 in clinical practice. They will be equipped to provide clear guidance to their teams, support evidence-based care, and manage legal ambiguity to ensure compliance while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Managing False Positives and Testing Protocols:
Participants will gain practical skills in managing false positives in HIV and syphilis testing. They will understand how to align testing protocols with clinical best practices, ensure proper equipment use, and respond to inaccuracies in diagnostic results to safeguard patient outcomes.

Leveraging Data:
Attendees will develop the ability to utilize real-time data to identify trends, address disparities, and implement targeted interventions and metrics.

Authors

Lupe, a U.S. Army veteran, holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and is dedicated to improving women’s health outcomes. At Piedmont Healthcare, she leads the Maternal Health Equity Task Force, managing strategic communications and driving improvements in maternal health outcomes and healthcare quality metrics.

With extensive experience in healthcare quality improvement, Lupe focuses on enhancing maternal care through process optimization, health equity initiatives, and data-driven solutions. Her expertise includes managing large-scale projects, facilitating clinical collaboration, and partnering with organizations for impactful community outreach.

Lupe’s professional interests involve analyzing legislative impacts on healthcare, implementing patient-centered care models, and utilizing real-time data to improve maternal health outcomes and safety. Passionate about healthcare excellence, she is committed to advancing the quality of care for women while ensuring compliance and patient safety across healthcare systems. She has been recognized with multiple awards for Impact, Quality Performance, and Overall Choice

Nandita Jacob holds an undergraduate degree in Biotechnology Engineering from VIT University in India and a Master of Public Health degree with a focus on Health Management and Policy from Emory University, Atlanta. With six years of experience in healthcare quality and process improvement at Piedmont Healthcare, Nandita is passionate about enhancing health systems. She has a particular interest in improvement projects related to women's services and surgical safety, striving to make a positive impact in these critical areas.

Leslie Brunswick holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from Albany State, Darton College of Nursing. With almost 30 years of nursing experience, Leslie has dedicated over 20 years to women’s services. Her particular interest lies in improvement projects related to the delivery of evidenced-based care to this critical patient population.

Patricia Moore, MD, FACOG serves as the Chair of the OBGYN Clinical Governance Council for the Piedmont Clinic as well as the OBGYN Department Chair for Piedmont Fayette Hospital. She has been a practicing OBGYN in the Atlanta area for 19 years. Prior to that, she completed her undergraduate and medical studies at Yale University. She then completed her residency at Johns Hopkins University. She moved back to the Atlanta area in 2005 to join her father and sister in their OBGYN practice, Women's Medical Center, where she has been practicing since. She is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive women's healthcare.